Professor Gitahi Kiama has been  officially installed as the 8th vice chancellor of the University of Nairobi .The glamorous ceremony took place in the  main campus Taifa hall on June 5th 2020. The occasion was graced  by the  top brass of the university management , officials from the ministry of Education, subsequent Vice chancellors and UoN members of staff. 

Prof. Kiama was employed by the University of Nairobi after  graduation in 1990 as an assistant Lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Anatomy. Since then, he has risen through the ranks to positions of Lecturer (1995), Senior Lecturer (2002), Associate Professor (2012) and Professor (2016). Prof. Kiama has held may leadership positions in the university. He is also an accomplished scholar with a track record in formulating and managing academic programs and supervising and mentoring Postgraduate students. He has successfully supervised and mentored several  PhD and  Master’s students to completion. He has served as a member of Senate since 2003.

Before his  appointment as the 8th Vice Chancellor of University of Nairobi, Professor Kiama served as the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Human Resource and Administration and Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor in-charge of Finance, Planning and Development(FPD).He has received the baton from his predecessor Prof. Peter Mbithi.  

Education CS, Prof. George Magoha, endorsed the Vice Chancellor saying that he has a good track record in fundraising and building wonderful infrastructure. He cited the Wangari Maathai Institute as an example of the good work. He urged him to promote team work .

The Chancellor, Dr. Vijoo Rattansi, on her part, challenged Prof. Gitahi to build a university for the people, by the people.“A leader is a dealer in hope. Do not forget that you carry the great sunshine of hope for many. May you inspire your team to do the impossible.” she said.

To seal his installation , Professor Kiama received all the instruments of power which includes : The Constitution of Kenya 2010, the Universities Act No. 42 of 2012, the University of Nairobi Charter, 2013, the Universities standards and guidelines, 2014, the Code of Conduct and ethics for Public Universities, 2009, the University of Nairobi Statutes, the Seal of the University of Nairobi, the University of Nairobi Logo, the Professor Yajnik Fountain aka Fountain of Knowledge, the Custody of records and  the University of Nairobi Mace which symbolizes authority of the University of Nairobi as an institution of higher learning.

Follow below link and read the inaugural speech  of the 8th vice chancellor of the University of Nairobi. 

Prof Kiama Inaugural speech